Day 2 - Springfield, IL to Cuba, MO

This morning we started with a quick tour around Springfield in the daylight, with a closer look at the both the current Illinois State Capitol, and the smaller Old Capitol building. Time was short however and we didn't have time to get around any of the Abraham Lincoln sites and museums, of which there are numerous. On the way out of town, just in case things were getting too highbrow too early, we stopped in at the world-famous Cozy Dogs - a Route 66 must-see, and where the original corn dog was invented. Naturally, we enjoyed one for breakfast, it would have been rude not too.

The new...

 

 ...and the old.

 

Corn Dogs for Breakfast - don't ry this at home kids - we're trained holiday makers

After Cozy Dogs, we cut across town to follow the old, old, pre-1930 alignment of the Mother Road out of Springfield. Whereas a lot of other Route 66 sections are not that far from the Interstate Highways which replaced it, this alignment felt very remote as we zig zagged through several small towns of only a few hundred people, driving along rough, narrow concrete lanes, and even a 1.4-mile section of brick road, which is now bypassed by a newer stretch of IL Route 4.

 

Follow the, follow the, follow the yellow red brick road

 

As we neared the St. Louis area, we detoured down to Collinsville on one of the last alignment changes to the route to enjoy some classic Americana, and another "world's largest" - the worlds largest ketchup (or catsup, if you prefer) bottle, again, because it would be rude not too.

 

World's Largest Ketchup Bottle (with regular Mini)



Regular Ketchup Bottle (with mini Mini)

 

For many years, the route crossed the mighty Mississippi river at the Chain of Rocks Bridge, at the north end of St Louis. It's a mile long but only 24 feet wide, and unusually has a 22 degree direction change halfway across the river. The bridge was replaced and closed in 1968, and almost torn down, but is now restored as a pedestrian and cyclist bridge, and is now another Historic Route 66 attraction.

Getting to the bridge itelf proved slightly tricky, as we had to cross another bridge over the Chain of Rocks Canal to get to it. At this point in time, we didn't realise that there was a canal to cross in order to reach the main river crossing (you can't see through trees), so we spent some time debating 1) why this bridge didn't look like the Chain of Rocks bridge were expected to see (it was straight!), and 2) why we were apparently allowed to drive over it. All became clear about halfway across the canal, when we spotted the real river and eventually found the end of the real bridge. (Confused? Here's a map link. It was much easier to access from the Missouri side.)

The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, with its crazy kink (taken from the MO half, looking at the IL half)

 

And so with our crossing of the Mississippi river, we had entered state number two, Missouri. Driving down into downtown St. Louis, we couldn't pass by without taking a few photos of the famous St. Louis Arch - "the gateway to the west". We had both been here before so we didn't stop long, but in case you didn'y know, you can actually ride up inside the arch to the top in little elevator pods, and look out across the city and river from tiny windows.

The St. Louis Arch

No Route 66 trip would be complete without Ted Drewes frozen custard (which I've wanted to try since seeing in on Food Network). They're famous for their 'concretes' which is ice-cream mixed with toppings etc. and mixed up with the spoon so it can be held upside down with out it falling out. It was worth the wait.

A Route 66 staple for over 75 years

 

Refuelled on ice cream we left St Louis behind and drove on west through more small towns, passing such delights as the Jesse James Wax Museum, old motels, through St. Cloud and Bourbon, before arriving in Cuba. We intended to stop at the Meramec Caverns in Stanton (of painted barn fame), but we knew they would be closed by the time we got that far, so we skipped on, with out intention being to quickly backtrack down I-44 in the morning to catch them first thing. 

Tonight, we're staying at the Wagon Wheel Motel, another Route 66 classic, which is brilliant, and we're already meeting other people doing the route, including a couple who have now spotted us (or our car, I should say) 3 times since Chicago.

 

Our motel for the night, we're in the one on the far left!

- Selina and Neil